Smithsonian Channel To Debut EPIC YELLOWSTONE With Bill Pullman

The eagerly anticipated series EPIC YELLOWSTONE is set to give audiences a front row seat to the extraordinary spectacle of wildlife and dramatic seasonal extremes in the iconic crown jewel of America's national parks. Hosted by renowned actor and Montana local Bill Pullman, and filmed over the course of three years, the series delivers stories from YELLOWSTONE never told before. The stunning four-part project uses state-of-the art 8K cameras, FLIR thermal imagery, drone timelapse, cineflex aerials and miniature nest cameras to reveal the world of Yellowstone's predators and prey in jaw-dropping beauty - shot fully in the wild with no captive or enclosed ANIMALS. EPIC YELLOWSTONE premieres on Sunday, March 10 at 9 PM ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel and will also be available on the channel's 10-hour 4K On-Demand model. In the lead-up to the event series, Smithsonian Channel will also premiere an all-new episode of the acclaimed and popular AERIAL AMERICA focusing entirely on YELLOWSTONE on Sunday, March 3 at 9 PM ET/PT.

"This project has been a long time in the making, documenting the awe-inspiring lives and natural splendor of YELLOWSTONE over the past three years," said Pullman. "I've long been aware of the incredible beauty of Yellowstone, so I'm thrilled to partner with Smithsonian Channel to bring this groundbreaking endeavor to viewers at home."

"Yellowstone is a magical landscape that has a special and emotional place in the American psyche," said David Royle, EVP and Chief Programming Officer, Smithsonian Networks. "Our filmmakers' commitment and the extraordinary developments in new technology have enabled us to capture this world in a way that's never been seen before. It's full of unexpected moments and wondrous details - and even behavior that has never been seen on camera before."

Established by Congress in 1872, YELLOWSTONE National Park is known for its varied wildlife and extraordinary natural wonders. The park spans over 3,000 square miles and comprises lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges, including the YELLOWSTONE Caldera, the largest supervolcano in North America, and the legendary geyser, Old Faithful. The first episode, FIRE AND ICE, showcases the park's toughest inhabitants who remain year round, and tells surprisingly intimate stories of survival in Yellowstone's most spectacular season - winter. After the first storms blanket the park, a bobcat is lured to the banks of the Madison River, kept open by geothermal springs, to hunt for waterfowl. A family of otters makes the long trek to find isolated fishing holes that haven't frozen over, while a bison matriarch leads her herd on its annual migration to the warmth of Yellowstone's geothermal core. An unprecedented look at the park's iconic geysers and hot springs through thermal imagery illuminates the otherworldly landscape inhabited by both predators and prey that are drawn to this beating heart of the park.

Having been reintroduced to YELLOWSTONE in 1995 after a 70-year absence, wolves have reignited an age-old battle between predator and prey. The Wapiti Pack, the largest in Yellowstone, has earned a reputation for ferocity. Now a young, lone wolf, "Blacktail," seeks to join their ranks as they master the art of taking down a mighty bison. But wolves aren't the only force keeping Yellowstone's herds in check. The endangered YELLOWSTONE grizzly population has made a remarkable comeback, rising from a low point of fewer than 150 bears to more than 700 today. Many are DESCENDANTS of legendary matriarch "Quad-Mom," who, at more than 20 years old, is raising two new cubs - perhaps the last of her litters. She must defend the cubs against giant boar grizzlies and teach the cubs to hunt newborn elk. As THE FAMILY ventures to the high alpine IN SEARCH OF a rare treat, DARKNESS descends on YELLOWSTONE during a total solar eclipse.

LIFE ON THE WING

Premieres Sunday, March 24 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Soaring above Old Faithful, the cascading Lower Falls and the brilliant Grand Prismatic Springs, Yellowstone's winged creatures survey an extraordinary landscape. Winter's silence is broken only by the song of the American dipper, North America's only aquatic songbird, which feasts on tiny insects gathered from the river bottom. Spring heralds a dramatic chorus as seasonal migrants flock to the park, nesting in every niche provided by its MOSAIC of forests, grasslands and wetlands. Breeding sandhill cranes perform their annual courtship dance as they renew lifelong partnerships with their mates. Summer brings opportunities for birds to take advantage of the season's bounty alongside bears and bison as the park's wildlife population swells with new arrivals. A pair of bluebirds works feverishly to deliver food to two consecutive broods nestled inside a treehole, while an osprey fends off a peregrine falcon's attack to defend his catch. As chicks compete for food, aggressive siblings turn on the weakest with dramatic effect.

DOWN THE RIVER WILD

Premieres Sunday, March 31 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

As the longest undammed river in the United States, the YELLOWSTONE River moves untamed through its 700-mile journey. In the heart of winter, trumpeter swans congregate at the river's outlet on YELLOWSTONE Lake's northern end, sheltering in its geothermally warmed waters. The river's biggest vertical drop over the iconic Upper and Lower Falls poses a danger for even the strongest swimmers - a family of river otters makes a daring portage down the cliffs to reach fishing grounds at the bottom of the waterfall. Spring's thaw unleashes millions of gallons of meltwater and transforms the tranquil river into a raging torrent, forcing a sow grizzly and bison herd to ford treacherous rapids while protecting their young. Summer brings an easier flow to the river as it leaves the confines of the park and winds through Paradise Valley. Fly fishermen take advantage of the seasonal swarm of salmon fly hatch as fireworks from Livingstone's Fourth of July rodeo light up the sky. The river leaves the mountains behind and enters the prairie, where new creatures emerge - distant echoes from the muddy Mississippi that grow stronger as the river's journey nears its end.

EPIC YELLOWSTONE is produced by Grizzly Creek Films for Smithsonian Channel. Tom Winston is executive producer for Grizzly Creek Films. Tria Thalman and David Royle are executive producers for Smithsonian Channel.

AERIAL AMERICA uses breathtaking aerial cinematography to reveal what makes the United States unique - from beautiful natural landmarks to sites of important turning points in history to fascinating locations far off the beaten path, as well as the rich variety of wildlife that calls each state home.

AERIAL AMERICA is a Tusker Television production for Smithsonian Networks. Tusker Television's Executive Producer is Toby Beach. Executive Producers for Smithsonian Channel are David Royle and Charles Poe.

Smithsonian Channel™, owned by Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where CURIOSITY lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing factual entertainment, available in HD and 4K Ultra HD across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel, winner of Emmy® and Peabody awards for its programming, combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME® with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, travel, history, science, nature and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, America in Color, The Lost Tapes, Mighty Ships, Million Dollar American Princesses, THE PACIFIC WAR IN COLOR and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include The Coronation, The Mountain Lion and Me, Earth from Outer Space and Titanoboa: Monster Snake. Smithsonian Networks also operates Smithsonian Channel Plus™, a subscription video streaming service delivering over a thousand hours of the Channel's stunning and diverse library of documentaries and series in HD and 4K Ultra HD. Smithsonian Channel is also available internationally in Canada, Singapore and Latin America. To learn more, go to www.smithsonianchannel.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram